In a world where cloud and mobile technologies have eliminated the barriers of communication and collaboration across borders, oceans and time zones, project-centric organizations are increasingly mining the world for the best talent to deliver quality goods and services. In turn, this new global economy has created a more competitive environment where businesses are required to deliver superior products and services to more demanding customers at lower margins. In light of this reality, project-driven organizations must continuously improve their global strategy to maintain their competitive edge and remain profitable.

This article will examine the unique challenges confronted by project leaders and their dispersed teams and stakeholders, and the strategy required to effectively drive projects to success.

Global Challenges in Project Management

Probably the biggest challenge project leaders face in managing a global team is the cultural diversity of team members and stakeholders who are working in multiple locations. It is not uncommon for remote teams to not have regular contact with their project lead. To complicate issues further, language and cultural barriers can create unclear expectations for all parties involved. As a result, challenges in effective communication and the sharing of timely information can be stalled or hindered, thus impacting a project’s success. In many cases, global project teams and their leaders are making critical decisions based on second -hand or miscommunicated information.

Neil Stolovitsky has over 12 years of IT experience with end-user, consulting, and vendor organizations, along with extensive expertise in business development, software selection, and channel strategies. He has published numerous white papers and articles covering Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for service industries, Project Portfolio Management, Professional Services Automation, IT governance, and new product development to a global audience. Neil currently holds the position of Senior Solution Specialist with Genius Inside. To learn more about Genius Inside go to: http://www.geniusinside.com/.